Air-separator



. J. STURTEVANT.

AIR SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25. 1919.

Patented July 19 1921.,

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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T. J. STURTEVANT.

AIR SEPARATUR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25, 191a.

1,384kfl29m Patented July 19, 192i 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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J22 V612 z or T. J. STURTEVANT.

AIR SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25, I919.

Patented July 19, 1921,

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- T. J. STURTEVANT.

AIR SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25, 1919.

1L,8%%,@290 Patented July 19, 1921.,

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- jnven% r.- W W;

human stares CHUSETTS.

ASSIGNOR T0 STURTE- A CORPORATION OF MASSA- AIR-SEPARATORQ Applicationfiled August 25, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. STURTE- VANT, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Wellesley, county ofNorfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an improvement inAir-Separators, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to air separators, andmore particularl to the type of air separator shown, described andclaimed in my co ending application, Serial N 0. 297,291, file May 15,1919.

The separator of said application comprises outer and inner casingsforming inner and outer chambers in communication with each other at theupper and lower ends thereof. A fan produces a circulating air currentwhich moves upward in the inner chamber and downward in the outerchamber. The materials to be graded are introduced into the innerchamber through the top thereof and strike a rotary distributer which,under the influence of centrifugal force, throws the materials outwardinto the path of the rising current of. air. The lighter particles arelifted thereby up to the fan, pass the fan, and pass thence downwardthrough the outer chamber, whereas the heavier particlesngravitatedownward through the rising current in the inner chamber. The fineparticles are discharged through one passage, and the coarser particlesare discharged through another passage.

This is a good efficient air separator for certain classes of work, fineparticles are to be separated, fine particles passing downward throughthe outer chamber, are liable to be carried by the ('irculating aircurrent back into the inner chamber.

One of the purposes of the present invention, therefore, is to providesimple and efiicient means for preventing return of the separatedlighter particles into the inner chamber. In carrying this feature ofthe invention into practical effect in the present instance, the loweropening between the Specification of Letters Patent.

but where very light,-

llatcnted July 1%, 1921. Serial No. 319,646.

outer and inner chambers is provided with means for promoting a whirl orlateral circulation of the air currents which tends to continue thewhirl of the currents produced by the fan and thus promotes acentrifugal action which tends to cause the fine particles to movetoward the outer casing while the air currents pass through said openinginto the inner chamber. The fine particles thus dlverted from saidopening pass down from the outer chamber through, the discharge openingtherefor without returning into the inner chamber.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide adjustable means for saidopening such that the strength of the rising air current may be readilyregulated and particles of varying fineness may be separated as de.sired.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide an outer chamber whichwill enlarge or bulge outward or progressively increase in size downtoward the lower opening between the inner and outer chamber, theconstruction being such that the fine particles may move downward alongand adjacent to the outer casing and pass said opening at a substantialdistance outward therefrom, and thereby further tend to prevent returnof the fine particles into the inner chamber.

' Another purpose of the invention is to provide a rotary distributerfor the materials which will deflect the same upward as they fly outwardfrom the distributer, and thereby start the particles upward with therising air current, in the inner chamber and increase the efficiency ofthe separator 1n grading materials.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a two part rotarydistributer, one part of whichmay be vertically adjusted with respect tothe other part and relatively to the rotary fan, according to whetherfine or coarser particles are to be separated from the materialsintroduced into the apparatus.

With the aforesaid and other purposes in view, the character of theinvention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the separator shown herein as oneembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a portion of Fi 3.

Tteferring to the drawings, the separator shown therein as one good formof the invention, comprises a support, in the present instance, in theform of a ring 1 (Fig. 1) having feet 3 adapted to be secured by bolts 5to beams 7 or other appropriate supporting means.

Mounted on a flange 9 of the foundation ring is an outer casing 11 forthe outer chamber 13, said casing having a base ring 15 provided with aninternal flange resting on the foundation ring flange 9 and detachablysecured thereto by screw bolts 17. The outer casing has a shell 19, inthe present instance of conical form throughout the greater portionthereof, with its lower edge riveted to the base ring 15 and its upperedge riveted to a top ring21. Ahead 23 is socured to the top ring and isprovided with eyes 25 adapted to be connected to a suitable tackle whichmay be used for lifting the outer casing from the foundation ring whendesired.

Vithin and spaced from the outer casing is an inner casing 27 fortheinner chamber 28 and having an upper conical shell 29 and a lowerconical shell 31. The adjacent ends of said shells are secured to rings33 connccted by through bolts 35. These rings are shouldered to receivea circular bafile plate 37 which may be of heavy, strong material. Theconstruction is such that on release of the through bolts 35, the baffleplate 37 may readily be removed and another substituted therefor.

Encircling the lower conical shell 31 is a cylinder 39 having its upperedge secured to the lower ring 33 and its lower edge s cured to a ring41. Projecting outward from the ring 41 are feet 43 having socketsresting on the upper ends of posts 44 which have their lower ends seatedin sockets 45 on brackets 47 projecting radially inward from thefoundatlon ring 1.

A conical casing 49 is secured to and dend from the foundation ring andhas a port at the lower end thereof through which the fines aredischarged, as more fully hereinafter described.

T o conduct the coarser particles. from the jecting through the finesinner chamber, a mouth or collar 51 has its lower edge secured to anupstanding flange of an angle ring 53 secured to the inner ends of thebrackets 47 referred to. Interposed between said angle ring 53 and saidbrackets is the outwardly projecting flange of a conical collar 55.Depending from the latter is a conical casing 57 communicating with aspout 59 having adelivery end prodischarge casing 49 referred to.

The materials to be graded may be introduced into the separator througha hopper 61 secured to the head 23. Projecting downward from the hopperis a feed tube 53 for conducting the materials to the rotary distributerdevice.

The rotary distribute-r device, in the present instance, comprises ahead 65 having a table 67 with vanes 69 rising from the peripheralposition thereof and surmounted by a ring 71. Depending from the edgeofsaid table is adeep apron 73 for a purpose to be described. Rising fromand secured to the ring 71 is a sleeve 75 encircling and spaced from thefeed tube 63. An annular dish 77 embraces the apron 73 and has anupstanding flange 79. At the inner edge of said dish is a ring 81connected by vertical posts 83 with a ring 85. A tapered deflector hood87 is secured to the ring 85 and hangs over the annular dish 77.

The construction is such that materials falling through the feed tube 63will strike the table 67 of the distributer, pass outward between thevanes 69, and drop thence onto the annular dish. The hood 87 will serveto deflect the materials down to said dish. The dish is rotated with thetable and, therefore, centrifugal force will carry the materials outwardin the dish to the upstanding flange which will deflect the same upwardinto the path of the rising air current in the inner chamber.

It is desirable to vertically adjust the dish and hood of the rotarydistributer and to secure the same to the sleeve 7 5, referred to, indifferent positions in order to have the most efficient distributingeffect for materials of varying character. To accomplish this, in thepresent instance, the hood ring 85 may have a split or two part ring 88secured thereto threaded to av threaded portion 89 of the sleeve 75, theparts of said rin 88 being clamped to said sleeve by bolts range ofadjustment required.

seaeae Suitable means may he provided to produce the circulation of airthrough the inner and outer chambers. This means, in the presentinstance, is in the form of a fan 95 having a hub 96 secured to theupper.

end of the sleeve 7 5 and long blades 97 projecting outword from saidhub through the opening between the upper ends of the outer and innerchambers. To direct the materials outward, an annular plate 99 may besecured to the upper end of the inner casing and project outwardtherefrom beneath the fan.

Suitable means may be provided for rotating the distributer table, dishand hood, and the sleeve and fan. This means, in the present instance,comprises a hub 101 de-- pending from the table and having a taperedbore fitted in the upper tapered end 103 of a vertical shaft 105 andsecured thereto by a screw bolt 107. This vertical shaft has an upperportion journaled in a hearing in av casing 109 and its lower endjournaled in an end thrust bearing 111 at the lower end of said casing.

Said vertical shaft may be driven by a bevel gear 113 thereon meshingwith a bevel gear 115 on a horizontal shaft 117 journaled in a bearing119 carried by said casing 109 and in a bearing 121 carried by thefoundation ring 1. At the outer end of said horizontal shaft is a pulley123 adapted to be driven by a belt from any suitable source of power.

The construction is such that the table, dish, hood, sleeve and fan maybe readily rotated by means of the simple transmission described. Thefan will create a circulation of air through the inner and outerchambers which may flow in the general ilirection indicated by the tailarrows in Next will be described the means for promoting the whirl ofthe air entering the inner chamber from the outer chamber and forcontrolling the strength of the rising air current in the inner chamber.This means, in the present instance of the invention, comprises a lowerangle ring 125 secured to the mouth or collar 51, referred to, and anupper angle ring 127 secured to the lower conical shell 31 of the innercasing. A series of Valves or deflecting vanes 129, preferably slightlycurved, have inner ends pi"- otally mounted on vertical pins 130 betweenand secured to the angle rings 125 and 127.

Suitable means may be provided for opening and closing these valves orvanes and for holding the same in different positions of adjustment.This means, in the present instance, comprises links 131 having endspivotally connected to lugs 132 on the vanes and opposite ends pivotallyconnected to arms 133 projecting radially outward from an adjusting ring134 mounted on the upits opposite end pivotally connected to ascrew 137entered loosely through a boss 139 of a bracket 141 secured to the outercasing. This screw is threaded in the hub 143 of a hand wheel 145,'saidhub having an annular groove 146 adapted to seat in an open bearing in afork 149 projecting outward from the bracket 141. In assembling thescrew and hand wheel, the annular groove of the hand wheel hub may befirst seated in the open bearing in said fork and then the screw may beinserted through the boss 139 and presented to the threaded bore of saidhub. Rotation of the hand wheel will thread the screw into said hub, thelatter being confined against axial movement by the engagement of thehub groove with the fork.

The construction is such that the hand wheel may be turned to adjust thescrew 137 and rod 135 longitudinally, thereby to slide or adjust theadjusting ring 134 circumferentially of the angle ring 127, and thelatter in turn will swing the valves or vanes 129 about their pivotalmounting 130 to close or open the valves or vanes any extent desired. Itwill be noted that the opening afforded by the valves or vanes is theonly rising current through the inner casing for separating or carryingheavier particles out past the fan into the outer casing, the valves orvanes will be opened to a greater extent than when lighter particles areto be carried bv the rising air currents over into the outer casing. Theexternally accessible hand whee] enables the valves or vanes to becontrolled with a desirable nicety of adjustment for obtaining the mostetlicient classification effect.

The rotary fan in producing the air circulation sends the air whirlingdownward through the outer chamber and the centrifugal force of the airwhirl tends to cause the light particles to move downward adjacent theouter casing. In order ticles may pass the valves or vanes, asubstantial distance outward therefrom, the outer casing may be bulgedor enlarged opposite said valves or vanes, presenting a wide chamber 151thereat. This bulge or enlargement in the present instance, is obtainedby tapering the outer casing upward as is well shown in F i 1.

The direction of the valves for vanes preferably is such that the airwhirling down through the outer chamber will strike the inner surfacesof the vanes and be directed that these paror deflected thereby from theouter chamber into the inner chamber in a manner such that the whirl ofthe air is promoted or increased rather than reduced. As a consequencethe whirl of the air approaching said vanes has a centrifugal forcewhich tends to carry the fine particles outward toward the outer casingand said particles are not carried by the air current past the vanesinto the inner chamber.

The operation of the separator will be readily understood. The aircirculates in the general direction indicated by the tail arrows. Itsrising current meets the materials deflected upward by the flange of thedistributer. The lighter particles are carried upward past the fan overinto the outer chamber and the heavier particles gravitate down throughthe inner chamber, the gen eral path of the lighter and heavierparticles being indicated by the plain arrows in Fig. 1. The lighterparticles are discharged through the part of the conical casing 49 andthe heavier particles are discharged through the spout 59.

The angle of the vanes 129 may be readily varied to vary the whirleffect thereof on the air, and to vary the area of the opening betweenthe conical shell 31 and the collar 51 for regulating the strength ofthe air current; but the space or distance between said shell and collaris not varied and consequently the location of said opening remains atthe same distance from the fan.

The adjustable angularly disposed vanes 129 are found desirable toincrease the efficiency of the apparatus when the fan is rotated ineither direction to produce a descending whirl of air in the outerchamber. If the direction of the whirl of the air is opposite to theWhirl promoting direction of the vanes, the particles descending withthe air current may strike against the backs of the vanes and bedeflected outward therefrom and thus prevented from entrance into theinner chamber.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiment shown, and that various deviation may be made therefromwithout departing from the s irit and scope of the appended claims.

W at is claimed is:

j 1. A separator for grading materials comprising, in combination, outerand inner chambers, a fan for producing an air circuit passing upwardthrough the inner chamber and downward through the outer chamber, avertical shaft mounted in said inner chamber; a rotary distributer onsaid shaft having a table to receive materials to be graded, an annularmember to receive the materials from said table and deliver the ame intothe path of the air current rising in the inner chamber, said table andannularmember being relatively adjustable to promote efficientdistribution of materials of varying character, and means between thetable and annular member to prevent the materials from escaping inwardtherebetween.

2. An air separator comprising, in combination, outer and innerchambers, a fan for producing an air current through said chambers forgrading materials, and .a rotary distributer having a central member forreceiving the materials to be graded and an annular member to receivethe materials from aid central member, and project the same into thepath of said air current, said annular member having an upstandingflange for directing the materials in the general direction of the flowof said air current.

3. An air separator comprising, in combination, outer and innerchambers, a vertical shaft within the inner chamber, a rotarydistributer mounted upon the upper end of the shaft, means fordelivering materials to said distributer, and a fan supported androtated by the distributer to produce an air current upwardly throughthe inner chamber and downwardly through the outer chamber for gradingthe materials, said distributer consisting of upper and lower materialreceiving members relatively adjustable to promote eflicientdistribution of materials of varying character.

4. An air separator comprising, in combination, a casing, means forproducing an 1 air circuit therein for grading materials, and a rotarydistributer having inner and outer members, the outer member being lowerthan the inner member to receive the materials therefrom, and a rotaryhood over the outer member and adjustable to different positionsrelative to the inner member to deflect materials from the inner to theouter member.

5. An air separator comprising, in combination, a casing, means forproducing an air circuit therein for grading materials, a shaft, asleeve carried by said shaft; and a rotary distributer having a membermounted on said shaft and a member mounted on said sleeve and adjustablealong the sleeve to different distances beneath the member on saidshaft.

6. An air separator comprising, in combination, a. casing, a verticalcomposite shaft mounted in said casing, a fan secured to the upper endof the composite shaft and driven thereby to produce an air circuitthrough the casing for grading materials, a rotary distributer for thematerials beneath the fan and mounted on the shaft, and means foradjusting part of the distributer along said shaft to differentpositions relative to the remaining part of the distributer.

7. An air separator comprising, in combination, a casing, a rotarydistributer therein, a fan, a sleeve shaft connecting said dis.

aseaeee tributer and fan, means to deliver materials to be gradedthrough said sleeve shaft to said distributer, a deflecting device aboveand cooperating with said distributer, and means adjustably to securesaid deflecting device to said sleeve shaft.

8. An air separator comprising, in combi nation, a casing, a verticalshaft therein, a table mounted on the upper end of said shaft, a sleeveshaft rising above said table, a fan on said sleeve shaft, means todeliver materials through said sleeve shaft to said table, an aprondepending from said table, an annular distributing member encirclingsaid apron, a hood connected to said distributing member, and meansadjustably to secure said hood to said sleeve shaft.

9. An air separator comprising, in combination, a casing having innerand outer chambers, a fan to produce an air circuitthrough saidchambers, a series of inclined vanes between said chambers for directingthe air current in whirl form from the outer to the inner chamber, meansangularly to adjust said vanes including links connected to the vanes,and means to deliver the materials into the air current rising in theinner chamber.

10. An air separator comprising, in combination, a casing having innerand outer chambers with upper and lower openings between them, a fan inthe upper opening to produce an air circuit through said chambers andopenings, a. support, a series of vanes pivoted to said support, a ring,links connected to said vanes and ring, and means to adjust said ring toimpart opening and closing movements to said vanes.

11. An air separator comprising, in combination, outer and inner casingsforming outer and inner chambers, a fan to produce an air currentthrough said chambers and for producing whirling air currents within theouter chamber, means to introduce ma terials into the path of the aircircuit in the inner chamber, and valve means adjustable to control thepassage of particles from the outer to the inner chamber, said outerchamber being enlarged opposite said valve means that the fines may bethrown outwardly by the whirling air currents in the outer chamber asubstantial distance from said valve means. a

, 12. An air separator comprising, in combination, a casing havingcommunicating inner and outer chambers, a fan for producing air currentswhirling circumferentially about the interior of the outer chamber andpassing through the inner chamber, a distributer for dehvering materialsinto the path of travel of the air current, and a series of adjustablevanes for controlling the current passing from the outer to the innerchamber, said vanes being mounted to swing outwardly beyond the vanesupporting structure to extend at an inclination into the path of travelof said whirling currents.

13. An air separator comprising, in combination, a casing havingcommunicating inner and outer chambers, a fan for producing air currentswhirling circumferentially about the interior of the outer chamber andpassing through the inner chamber, a dis tributer for deliveringmaterials into the path of travel of the air current, and a series ofadjustable vanes for controlling the current passing from the outer tothe inner chamber, said vanes mounted to swing outwardly to a.substantial distance beyond the vane supporting structure with the outerends of the vanes extending in the direction of approach of the whirlingair currents.

14. An air separator comprising in combination, a casing, a verticalshaft mounted to rotate in said casing, a fan secured to the shaft anddriven thereby to produce an air circuit through the casing for gradingmaterials, a rotary distributer for the materials mounted on the shaftand comprising, a central table for receiving the materials to bedistributed, and an annular member below the table constructed andarranged to receive the materials from the table and throw them outwardinto the path of the air current and means for adjusting the annularmember to difierent positions below the table.

15. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination,separating and collecting chambers having upper and lower openingsbetween them, a rotary distributer having a supporting surface forreceiving the materials and whirling the same outward into theseparating chamber, a fan for causing a whirling air current tocirculate up through the separating chamber, thence through the upperopenings, thence down in the collecting chamber, and thence through thelower opening back into the separating chamber, and a series of vanesfor said lower opening projecting a substantial distance beyond thesupporting means for said vanes out into the collecting chamber forcatching the downward air current and promoting the whirl of the aircurrent as it passes through the lower opening into the separatingchamber.

16. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination,separating and collecting chambers having upper and lower openingsbetween them, means to introduce the materials into the separatingchamber, a rotary distributer having a supporting surface for receivingthe materials and whirling the same outward into the separating chamber,a fan for causing a whirling air current to circulate up through theseparating chamber, thence through the upper opening, thence down in thecollecting chamber, and thence through the lower opening back into theseparating chamber, aseries of vanes projecting out from the loweropening: a substantial distance beyond the supporting means for saidvanes into the collecting chamber for catching the downward air currentand promoting the Whirl of the air current as it passes from thecollecting chamber into the separating chamber, and means to vary theangle of said vanes. 10

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS J. STURTEVANT.

